Sterilizer door



Oct. 22, 1968 A. B. HUSTON 3,407,028

STERILI ZER DOOR Filed June 22. 1964 I9 I I l6 I l8 SI 23 V I7 \i IINVENTOR.

ALFRED B. HUSTON FIG. 2

United States Patent Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,785 2 Claims.(Cl. 2l91) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed hereinrelates to an autoclave with a door. The door is made of two plates. Theouter plate is flat and the inner plate is dished inward away from theouter plate and spacers are provided between the inner and outer plates.The outward surfaces of the outer plate are made of corrosive-resistantmaterial and a seal is provided between the fiat surfaces of the doorand the autoclave. By having the lining of the autoclave made of acorrosive-resistant material, the remainder of the door can be made ofordinary steel or the like and, therefore, a much more economical doorcan be constructed.

This invention relates to autoclaves and, more particularly, to the typeof autoclave commonly referred to as a sterilizer.

The sterilizer disclosed herein, in combination with a door, provides astructure wherein a relatively economical material can be used on theinner shell of the chamber and door in relatively large machines and arelatively inexpensive material can be used for the outer shell of bothsterilizer and door.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide animproved combination sterilizer and door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved door.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an autoclave incombination with a door and chamber which is simple in construction,economical to manufacture, and simple and efiicient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in cross section of a sterilizer.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, a chamber is shownhaving a door 11 thereon. The chamber 10 has an inner shell 20 and anouter shell 21 with an end ring 22 holding them in spaced relation. Theinner shell 20 may be made of a corrosion resistant material or othersuitable material which is generally more expensive than the structuralmaterial from which the outer shell 21 and the end ring 22 are made.

A sealing ring 23 is provided which is welded to the inner shell 20 andcoextensive with the end ring 22. The sealing ring has axially extendingflanges 24 thereon which may receive the arms 31 of the door.

The door is made up of the inner plate 14 and the outer plate 12. Theouter plate 12 is flat and made of structural material while the innerplate 14 is dished inwardly toward the inside of the sterilizer chamber.As an alternative to the device shown herein, the plate 12 could be usedas an inner plate and the plate 14 as the outer plate.

3,407,028 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 The outer plate 12 and the inner plate14 are welded together at 26 and the portion of the surface of the innerplate 14 adjacent the outer edge indicated at 27 is generally flat toprovide a sealing surface to cooperate with the sealing ring 23.

The center plate 15 is attached to the inner plate 14 by means of studs28 which can be provided for a conventional steam lock between the twoplates.

The door disclosed herein is less expensive to construct and manufacturefor high pressure chambers since the thickness of the plates may bereduced because of the truss arrangement of the spacers 19 between theinner plate and outer plate and the dished structure of the inner plate.Thus, the outer plate of the door 12 may be made of a structuralmaterial such as structural steel one-quarter inch thick, for example,and the inner plate might be made of nickel clad'steel. The box sectionconstruction which is, in effect, a truss like arrangement gives thedoor the required strength.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A door for an autoclave comprising a generally fiat outer platehaving fastening means thereon to attach i. to said autoclave,

an inner plate overlying said outer plate and having peripheral edgescoextensive therewith and welded thereto,

the surface of the side of said inner plate remote from said outer platebeing generally parallel to said inner plate for a substantial distanceinwardly from the outer edge thereof providing a generally flat surfaceand seating means on said fiat surface,

said inner plate being dished away from said outer plate at theintermediate part thereof,

and spacers between said inner and outer plates.

2. In combination, an autoclave and a door,

said door comprising a generally flat outer plate having fastening meansthereon to attach it to said autoclave,

an inner plate overlying said outer plate and having peripheral edgescoextensive therewith and welded thereto,

the surface of the side of said inner plate remote from said outer platebeing generally parallel to said inner plate for a substantial distanceinwardly from the outer edge thereof,

said inner plate being dished away from said outer plate at theintermediate part thereof,

spacers between said inner and outer plates,

said autoclave having a door opening at one end and a lining made ofcorrosion resistant material,

a generally fiat, outwardly facing surface of said corrosion resistantmaterial around said door opening,

Sealing means between said flat surface of said door and said end ofsaid autoclave,

and means on said autoclave to engage said fastening means on said door.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,744 11/1954 Gattuso 220-9JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

